Samsung reshuffle focused on R&D

With the U.S.-led economic slowdown and last year’s slush fund scandal, many speculated that Samsung Group would undergo a large-scale staff reshuffle this year, but yesterday’s personnel changes were on the same scale as last year’s.

Word of the reshuffle at the nation’s No. 1 conglomerate traveled through a company release. Samsung said 247 executive officials were promoted this year, while 223 executive officials were promoted last year across its 59 affiliates.

Among the seven Samsung Electronics senior vice presidents promoted were Kim Jong-jung, Bang In-bae, Shin Sang-heung, Lee In-yong and John Depraetere.

Shin is credited with building the popularity of Samsung’s Bordeaux TV model worldwide. Samsung Electronics currently has the largest market share in the world’s liquid-crystal display TV market.

Lee, an anchor-turned-businessman, will lead the newly launched Samsung Communication Team, which will specialize in promoting the Samsung brand.

Depraetere is the second foreigner to become an executive official at Samsung Electronics after David Still. Still and Depraetere are the only two foreign executives based in Seoul.

The children of former Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, excluding his only son Jay Y., were also included in the personnel changes. The junior Lee must wait another three years to be promoted to vice president, according to company regulations.

Former chairman Lee’s daughter Boo-jin was promoted from vice president of the Shilla Hotel, an affiliate of Samsung Group, to senior vice president. The husband of Lee’s second daughter Seo-hyun, Kim Jae-youl, was promoted to senior vice president of Cheil Industries.

Meanwhile, Samsung Group tried to enhance research and development areas through the reshuffle, while downsizing the group and enhancing marketing activities.

For example, Samsung Electronics will merge its six business divisions into two divisions - device solutions and digital media and communications - and 10 business departments.

By Sung So-young Staff Reporter [so@joongang.co.kr]